Brooklin community to help name park

Council decides to consult area schools after initial plans for name fall through

Naming of Brooklin park deferred

Metroland file photo

WHITBY -- Brooklin Redmen Derek Suddons looked for an opening during Major Series Lacrosse action against the Six Nations Chiefs at Iroquois Park Sports Centre on July 17, 2013. Whitby council recently discussed the possibility of naming a new park in Brooklin after the Brooklin Redmen Lacrosse Club. March 13, 2014.

BROOKLIN -- The naming of a new park in Brooklin has been deferred to a later date as Whitby council struggles to find an appropriate fit.

Town staff was initially directed to consult with members of the Brooklin Redman Lacrosse Club about the possibility of using its name for the park that’s currently under construction on Cachet Boulevard, north of Carnwith Drive East.

After some discussion at a meeting earlier this month, that option was struck down by council.

“It just seems to me that we are doing a disservice to the Brooklin Redmen in naming a park that doesn’t even have a lacrosse box or anything reflective of lacrosse in it,” said North Ward Councillor Derrick Gleed on March 3.

The matter has been under review since Feb. 3 when staff brought forward a report to the operations committee recommending that the new park be named Cachet Park North in accordance with the parks and recreation property and facility naming policy.

Parks are generally named after the street on which the park property has its main frontage but in this case, there is already an existing district park called Cachet Park, located to the south of the new park.

Council voted to refer the report back to staff to consult with schools in the area for advice on a name for the park.

“With all the debate we’ve had and the discussion back and forth and we can’t seem to come up with a name for the park, perhaps we should turn to the community,” said Coun. Gleed.

There are currently two lacrosse boxes in Whitby and staff is working on a sports facilities strategy that will determine if there’s a need for a third -- preferably in the north part of the town.

If the development proceeds, council discussed possibly putting the Brooklin Redmen Lacrosse Club’s name forward for that instead. A representative from the Brooklin Redmen could not be reached for comment.